Last meeting: Penguins won 37-29 in 2002 regular season in Youngstown.

Jody Webb didn't have to go far off the Youngstown State campus to discover the impact the football team has made on the city by returning to the FCS playoffs for the first time since 2006.

'I went across the street to the gas station, and the manager was so excited talking about the playoffs,'' Webb said ahead of today's first-round game. 'We've paid the town what it is due. They support us so much.''

From 1987 through 2000, Youngstown State qualified for the playoffs 11 times under then-coach Jim Tressel. The Penguins won championships in 1991, '93, '94 and '97 and finished second in '92 and '99.

Tressel was hired away by Ohio State after the 2000 season, however, and the playoff appearances ended, 2006 being the exception.

Second-year coach Bo Pelini, who is Youngstown-born and -bred, isn't sentimental about bringing back part of the old days.

'I'm happy for the kids that we've made it to the playoffs, but that isn't what our goal is,'' he said. 'Our goal is to play for it all. I don't get into all the nostalgic things. That's what you think about down the road.''

Pelini's voice stayed in a gruff monotone, but it was apparent that he was excited talking about the process of getting the Penguins this far and beyond.

'I still think that it's a work in progress,'' he said. 'We've made a lot of strides. To play well on Saturday, you don't flip on a light switch. You have to earn your way to the next (game). ''

The 'blueprint,'' Pelini said, is 'black and white.''

'You are either right (as a player), or you are wrong,'' he said. 'I say one missed step is one too many.''

Webb, a senior from Toledo, said the players pointed fingers when things went wrong in 2015. The Penguins lost five of their last seven games and finished 5-6.

'We've accepted coach Bo and the staff changing the program,'' Webb said. 'There is no more blame game and no more excuses. That's exactly what it was " an attitude readjustment. This has been an awakening. We put up or shut up.''

Players from past championship teams have spoken to the players about what it takes to win.

'We got insight from those players,'' he said. 'We think we know what it takes to win. This hasn't happened overnight.''

mznidar@dispatch.com

@MarkZnidar

Mark Znidar

Samford vs. Youngstown State

5 P.M. Saturday, YOUNGSTOWN

Records: Samford (7-4), Youngstown State (8-3)

Last meeting: Penguins won 37-29 in 2002 regular season in Youngstown.

Jody Webb didn't have to go far off the Youngstown State campus to discover the impact the football team has made on the city by returning to the FCS playoffs for the first time since 2006.

'I went across the street to the gas station, and the manager was so excited talking about the playoffs,'' Webb said ahead of today's first-round game. 'We've paid the town what it is due. They support us so much.''

From 1987 through 2000, Youngstown State qualified for the playoffs 11 times under then-coach Jim Tressel. The Penguins won championships in 1991, '93, '94 and '97 and finished second in '92 and '99.

Tressel was hired away by Ohio State after the 2000 season, however, and the playoff appearances ended, 2006 being the exception.

Second-year coach Bo Pelini, who is Youngstown-born and -bred, isn't sentimental about bringing back part of the old days.

'I'm happy for the kids that we've made it to the playoffs, but that isn't what our goal is,'' he said. 'Our goal is to play for it all. I don't get into all the nostalgic things. That's what you think about down the road.''

Pelini's voice stayed in a gruff monotone, but it was apparent that he was excited talking about the process of getting the Penguins this far and beyond.

'I still think that it's a work in progress,'' he said. 'We've made a lot of strides. To play well on Saturday, you don't flip on a light switch. You have to earn your way to the next (game). ''

The 'blueprint,'' Pelini said, is 'black and white.''

'You are either right (as a player), or you are wrong,'' he said. 'I say one missed step is one too many.''

Webb, a senior from Toledo, said the players pointed fingers when things went wrong in 2015. The Penguins lost five of their last seven games and finished 5-6.

'We've accepted coach Bo and the staff changing the program,'' Webb said. 'There is no more blame game and no more excuses. That's exactly what it was " an attitude readjustment. This has been an awakening. We put up or shut up.''

Players from past championship teams have spoken to the players about what it takes to win.

'We got insight from those players,'' he said. 'We think we know what it takes to win. This hasn't happened overnight.''

Sister Publications

Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted.
Times Reporter ~ 629 Wabash Ave. NW New Philadelphia, OH 44663 ~ Privacy Policy ~ Terms Of Service